City Commission

The mayor of the city of Elkhart wants to spend $349,000 to buy 80 body cameras for the city’s police force. Mayor Dick Moore was scheduled to ask Elkhart’s city council on Monday to approve the request that’s part of $3.75 million in proposed capital spending for 2015 for the city. The Elkhart Truth reports Moore said in a recent …

Two firefighters from the Three Rivers department have been promoted. Travis McGahan and Jeff Bloomfield were recognized during a pinning ceremony at last week’s city commission meeting. McGahan has risen to the status of full-time firefighter, while Bloomfield was promoted to deputy chief. McGahan lives in Three Rivers while Bloomfield is a Marcellus resident. Bloomfield, who was promoted from the …

Daryl Griffith will retain his seat as a member of the Three Rivers City Commission. The 47-year-old Griffith, dean of the seven-member board with 12 years under his belt, fended off challenger Matthew Mosher Tuesday, 560-483, in the race for a two-year, at-large seat. Griffith, a mechanical engineer, said he plans to continue focusing on the best interest of the …

The Sturgis City Commission last week approved three design-task orders for 2015 street projects. The orders allow the city to get a head start on completing preliminary design, final design and bidding phases for each project this winter, in preparation for street work next spring. The city street repairs were approved for West Dresser Drive and Congress Street, and milling …

Sturgis city commissioners last week approved installation of security cameras and a monitoring system for $55,000. Gecko Security will place security equipment in various city facilities and properties. Three bids were received, with Gecko Security being the low bidder. The matter took place during the commission’s meeting Wednesday night.

Public comment and consideration of a resolution regarding a show-cause hearing for 512 W. Michigan Ave. highlights this evening’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. Two other matters of business will be handled by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners:  discussing and potentially approving a pavement maintenance project in the amount of $115,000, and a $14,000 plan for airport taxiway improvements with …

Funding for a proposed recreation trail between Three Rivers and Fabius Township has received a $10,000 boost from the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The amount was requested during Tuesday’s county commission meeting by River Country Recreational Authority member Lindsay Oswald. Oswald, who also serves as the county’s grant writer, said a significant amount of money in matching funds …

Five agenda items of new business will be handled this evening by the Three Rivers City Commission. Items before Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners include the setting of a show-cause hearing for 512 W. Michigan Ave.; an order of demolition at 310 Jackson and 707 Seventh streets, and 407 and 261 South Main Street; and a proposed paving project at …

Crews from Grand Rapids-based Pitsch Companies this week started demolition of the Wood Motel in Sturgis. At $62,000, Pitsch was low bidder for the project authorized by the city commission. Workers estimate it will take about 10 semi-truck loads to haul away debris and that the job, which started Monday, will likely be done by the end of the day …

Members of the Sturges-Young Auditorium board and Sturgis Council of the Arts board have voted to merge the two boards. The two boards approved the plan in July and the measure was solidified Wednesday, when the Sturgis City Commission approved the merger. The newly created Auditorium Board of Directors will consist of one city commissioner and a maximum of 22 …